NEWS FROM THE HEALTH ROOM

NEWS FROM THE HEALTH ROOM
Dear Parents/Guardians:
I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself to you. My name is
Margaret Persaud, and I am a registered nurse employed by the Department of Health and
Human Services (DHHS) and assigned to your child’s school. I will also be covering two
other schools.
The Health Room is staffed daily by a School Health Room Technician (SHRT).
The SHRT is a Certified Medication Technician and a Certified Nursing Assistant. She
is also a Certified CPR and First Aid Provider. The Health Room Tech provides first aid
and administers medications. It is important that the school has accurate home, work,
and cell phone numbers, as well as emergency contact information, in the event a parent
cannot be reached.
Some of the services that the school nurse provides include health assessments,
crisis intervention, health counseling, case management, referral services and health
education and promotion. Other services that are provided in the Health Room, through
DHHS, are vision and hearing screenings. This will be done for all kindergarteners, some
first graders and any student new to the State of Maryland. It is my goal to work closely
with the school staff to ensure your child has a safe and healthy school year. I have
included a few handouts with this letter. Please read them carefully and share them with
your child.
MEDICATIONS ADMINISTERED AT SCHOOL
Medications, both prescription and over the counter, must have the proper paperwork.
Medication administration forms (525-13 for medications:
(http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/forms/pdf/525-13.pdf ),
Form 525-14 for epipens:
(http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/forms/pdf/525-14.pdf ),
and Form 525-12 for nebulizer or other treatment:
(http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/forms/pdf/525-12.pdf ) are
available in the health room or on the MCPS website. Medications MUST BE brought to
school by a parent or guardian and must be properly labeled with the label instruction
matching those on the form. The physician orders have to be specific. We CANNOT
accept incomplete orders, and also medications brought to school by a student.
SICK CHILDREN
Please be alert to your child’s health and use your best judgment as to when to send
him/her to school. I have enclosed recommendations when to keep your child home from
school. We do recommend that they stay at home for 24 hours after vomiting or the last
evidence of a fever (a temperature of more than 100 degrees) without medicine.
Please call the health room with any questions or concerns. The number is 301-8791095. I am looking forward to meeting and working with you to provide a safe and
successful school year for your child/children.
Best regards,
Margaret Persaud, MSN, RN, SCHN
School Community Health Nurse
Drew Elementary School Phone: 301-879-1095 Email:
[email protected]